What Is Soul

Artist: Funkadelic

Title of album: Funkadelic

Year of first release: 1970

Songwriter: George Clinton

Memorable Lyrics:

• "Behold! I am Funkadelic/I am not of your world/But fear me not/I will do you no harm"
  • Compare to the first song off the same album
• "... all that is good is nasty"
• The definition of soul according to George Clinton
  • "Soul is a hamhock in your cornflakes"
  • "Soul, soul is the ring around your bathtub"
  • "Soul is a joint rolled in toilet paper"
  • "Soul is rusty ankles and ashy kneecaps"
  • "Soul is chitlins foo yung"
• "...orange haze, orange haze, it ain't purple no more"
  • This is probably a reference to "Purple Haze[?]", a song by Jimi Hendrix

Complete lyrics at the Motherpage (http://www.duke.edu/~tmc/motherpage/lyrics_funkadelic/lyr-funkadelic#lyr-s-whatissoul)

The first part of the song reiterates many of the same points as Mommy, What's a Funkadelic?, that Funkadelic and the Funk (see P Funk mythology) are alien in origin but not dangerous. The second part attempts to answer the question of what a soul is (see the five conclusions above). The song also contains the sound of someone smoking marijuana out of a bong.

Personnel

• Lead Vocals: George Clinton